Bush Vetoes Health Bill

In the U.S. Social Security system, there are still 9 million children who do not have genuine access to health care because their families are too poor to buy a private insurance. In order to end the scandal that started ten years ago, Republicans and Democrats in the Congress mustered their votes to adopt a health bill for 4 million of those children. The bill allocated 35 billions dollars to this project. Against the opinion of both Congress and his own supporters, President George Bush vetoed the bill. At the same time, he undertook a – very symbolic – measure in asking Congress for an extra 42 billion to carry on with the deadly war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Unfortunately, he is on the point of obtaining it.

To denounce this decision, a very unusual gathering of thousands of 7 or 8 year-old children occurred outside the White House to ask the president to “Please sign the bill !” or “Health care, not war.” Those are wise youthful words even if President George Bush will not go back on his decision. And as if that were not enough, he went on to criticise the health insurance programme, saying : “It may lead to government-controlled health care” Brr…we will be adopting the French Social Security system next !